Italy vs South Africa: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 178 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā latest data through 2026.
Summary
South Africa has 11% more people than Italy (65.49 million vs 58.95 million). Italy's economy is 6.1 times the size of South Africa's ($2.61 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP).
Comparing Italy and South Africa: South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (621,000) against Italy (1.24); South Africa leads on Oil Consumption (553,000) against Italy (1.53); South Africa leads on Refined Petroleum Products Production (487,100) against Italy (1.61). Across 178 compared metrics, Italy wins on 115 and South Africa wins on 54.
- Communications: 9 metrics compared
- Economy: 68 metrics compared
- Environment: 12 metrics compared
- Geography: 7 metrics compared
- Government: 9 metrics compared
- Health: 24 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
- People and Society: 40 metrics compared
- Transportation: 5 metrics compared
- Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
Communications
9 metrics| Metric | š®š¹ Italy | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed Broadband Penetration | 31.78 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā | 5.35 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants | |
| Internet Penetration Rate (%) | 89.22 %ā | 78.36 % | |
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 87.03 %ā | 75.66 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 87% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 76% (2023 est.) | |
| Mobile Internet Speed | 31.78 Mbpsā | 5.35 Mbps | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 68.01 points | 75.71 pointsā | |
| Radios | 50.5ā | 17 | |
| Televisions | 30.3ā | 6 | |
| Waterways | 2,400 | NA |
Economy
68 metricsEnvironment
12 metrics| Metric | š®š¹ Italy | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual COā Emissions Growth (abs) | -10.36Mā | 3.23M | |
| Annual Forest Area Change Rate | 12,490.04 % | 87,566.02 %ā | |
| Average Annual Temperature | 14.05 Ā°C | 18.35 Ā°Cā | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 307.44ā | 446.7 | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | 200 | |
| Global Precipitation Distribution | 1,028.22 mmā | 652.17 mm | |
| Population Distribution | a fairly even population distribution exists throughout most of the country, with coastal areas, the Po River Valley, and urban centers (particularly Milan, Rome, and Naples) attracting larger and denser populations | the population is concentrated along the southern and southeastern coast, and inland around Pretoria; the eastern half of the country is more densely populated than the west, as shown in this population distribution map | |
| Protected Land Area for Adaptation | 21.56 sq kmā | 9.88 sq km | |
| Protected Land Area Percentage | 21.5 %ā | 9.6 % | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 43 Cubic meters per yearā | 4.8 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 191.3ā | 51.35 | |
| Total Threatened Mammal Species | 9 speciesā | 33 species |
Geography
7 metrics| Metric | š®š¹ Italy | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 7.5 %ā | 1.94 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 110.6ā | 85.66 | |
| Agricultural land | 129,738 sq. km | 963,410 sq. kmā | |
| Airports per 1,000 Sq Km | 295,720 | 1.21Mā | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 7,600 kmā | 2,798 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 170.53 cubic meters per inhabitant | 464.7 cubic meters per inhabitantā | |
| Irrigated Land | 24,460ā | 16,700 |
Government
9 metrics| Metric | š®š¹ Italy | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 59.91 % | 61.59 %ā | |
| Administrative Divisions | 15ā | 9 | |
| Corruption Perception Index | 54 index | 41 indexā | |
| Corruption Perceptions Index Score | 54 indexā | 41 index | |
| Independence | 17 | 31ā | |
| LGBT Rights Index Score | 5.38 | 10.94ā | |
| Prison Population Rate | 108 per 100,000ā | 260 per 100,000 | |
| Public Sector Corruption Perception | 54 | 41ā | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
24 metricsMilitary and Security
3 metrics| Metric | š®š¹ Italy | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Military Personnel | 161,000 personnelā | 74,000 personnel | |
| Military Expenditure (% of GDP) | 1.89 % | 0.74 %ā | |
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 338,000ā | 89,000 |
People and Society
40 metricsTransportation
5 metrics| Metric | š®š¹ Italy | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 1.72ā | 0.37 | |
| Airports | 655ā | 573 | |
| Annual Human Space Visits (Total) | 0 | 0 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 125ā | 90 | |
| Heliports | 163ā | 49 |
Travel and Tourism
1 metric| Metric | š®š¹ Italy | šæš¦ South Africa | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourism Receipts per Capita | 61.43B USDā | 6.72B USD |
Frequently Asked Questions About Italy vs South Africa
Which has a larger population, Italy or South Africa?ā¾
South Africa. South Africa has 11% more people than Italy (65.49 million vs 58.95 million). Data for 2026.
Which has a bigger economy, Italy or South Africa?ā¾
Italy. Italy's economy is 6.1 times the size of South Africa's ($2.61 trillion vs $424.75 billion GDP). Data for 2026.
Which is richer per person, Italy or South Africa?ā¾
Italy is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $44,298 in Italy vs $6,486 in South Africa (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).